Snap-hook



No. 6I9,658. Patented Feb. 14, I899.

C. M. BEARD.

SNAP HOOK. (Application filed June 4, 1898.)

(No Model.)

- A TTOHNEYS NITED- STATES ATEN Brice.

CHARLES MINOR BEARD, OF ELROY, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO MARC SHERWOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,658, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed June 4,1898. Serial No. 682,553. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MINOR BEARD, 'of Elroy, in the county of Juneau and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved Snap-Hook, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved snap hook which is simple and durable in construction, arranged to prevent accidental unsnapping or opening, and to permit of conveniently opening the hook whenever desired with a gloved or ungloved hand.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same.

The improved snap-hook is provided with a shank or body A, formed at one end with a hookB and at its other end with a loop 0 for attaching the snap-hook to a strap or the like. In the end of the shank A next to the loop 0 is held a transverse pivot D, on which is fulcrumed a tongue E,extending forwardly to the hook B, the free end of the tongue being formed with a head E, adapted to engage with its forward beveled end E the correspondingly-beveled end B of the hook when the tongue E is closed by the action of a spring F. The spring F is preferably made U-shaped, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 2, and rests with its lower member in a recess formed in the shank A and extends with its curved middle portion and top member in a recess formed in the side of the tongue E. By the arrangement described the spring F is properly protected and is not liable to break upon opening or closing the tongue E.

The head E is formed at its rear end with beveled shoulders E adapted to abut against the forwardly-projecting ends G of lugs G, extending integrally from the shank A in an upward direction on opposite sides of the tongue E, so as to form a guard for the same and prevent lateral displacement of the tongue and to limit the forward movement of the finger when pressing the tongue for opening the hook.

When the tongue E is in a closed position, as illustrated in the drawings, the head E not only engages the beveled end B of the hook B, but also the forward ends G of the lugs G, so as to securely close the forward end of the snap-hook and prevent accidental opening thereof by the ring engaging the hook. When the hook E is closed, its top surface is flush with the upper ends of the lugs G and the top of the hook B, so that the snap-hook is not liable to catch on projecting parts of the harness, the horses mane, or the like.

Now by the arrangement described the operator can conveniently press the hook E between its pivotal end and the ends of the lugs G with either a gloved 0r ungloved finger to open the snap-hook by the head E moving inward toward the shank A. As the free end B of the hook B is a suitable distance from the forward ends G of the lugs G, a sufficient opening is formed for the entrance and exit of the ring to be connected with the snaphook, especially as this opening is not liable to be covered by the glove or finger for the reason previously mentioned.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a snap-hook, the combination of a.

body provided at one end with a hook and at the other end with a loop, a tongue pivotally mounted on the body adjacent to the loop and having its free end adapted to engage with the hook at the limit of the outward move ment of the tongue, the free portion of the tongue being formed with a head comprising two oppositely-extending shoulders, and two lugs formed on the body of the snap-hook and IOO vided with a hook proper, a tongue pivoted on the body portion and adapted to move against the point of the hook proper, the tongue having a head formed on its free portion, the head comprising two oppositely-extending shoulders, and two lugs formed on the body portion and extending upwardly one on each side of the tongue, the ends of the lugs being projected into engagement with the shoulders of the head of the tongue, 10 whereby to limit the outward movement of the tongue, the tongue being movable inward between the inner faces of the lugs.

CHARLES MINOR BEARD.

Witnesses:

W. S. THOMPSON, G. G. THOMPSON. 

